Refrigerating apparatus



Sept. 22, 1931. H. B.. HULP 1,823,899

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed June 27. r1930 HIS ATTORNEYS.'

Patented Sept. 22, 1931 UNITED STATI-s PAT-ENT" OFFICE may a. HULL, or DAYTON, oruo, assIeNoa To raremamn conrona'rrou, or

navfromomo, acoarona'rronor DELAWARE maremma n'rrnna'rus Appueation med :une 2,7, 1930. serial no. 484,304.

This invention relates to refrigerating systems. v

In refrigerating systems wherein 'there is contained aquantity of volatile -refri yeral'lt it frequently happens that, after suc sys-L` tems have been placed in operation or afterl they have operated for long .periods of time, some refrigerant may kescape therefrom .undeteted and cause ineilicient operation of the system. Heretofore, under such conditions, there has been no known method of or apparatus for denitely determining lhow much refrigerant was contained or sealed within afsystem without,l pumping the refrigerant'therefrom and measuring or weighingit.' 1

It is to apparatus for determining. the quantity of refrigerant in refrigerating systems to which my invention relates, having for one of its objects the provision of imf proved means whereby the amount of refrigerant sealed in the system can be readily, definitely and easily determined at any time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system having a pivotal or tiltable portion wherein, a quantity of liquid refrigerant may collect, for circulation through the system, and to equip that portion of the system with a scale or suitable device which will accurately record the amount of liquid refrigerant therein. t

Further objects and advantages of the present inventionV will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form oof the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic showing of a refrigerating system inwhich the present invention may be employed;

Fig. 2 is a `side view of the refrigerant circiulat-ing unit showing my improved apparatus mounted thereon in normal'operating position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 vshowing my improved apparatusin a tilted position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the apparatus taken on the line 4 4 kof Fig. 2;

, 5-5v of Fig. 2; and

.Fig.,6 is anfenlarged sectional view of a sigllit glass couplingemployed in the system.

eferrin to the drawings, Fig. 1 disclose'sa re rigerating system comprisinga compressor-11 and amotor 12, which drives the compressor through abelt 13 and pulley wheels 14 and 15, mounted on a base 16. Connected by a pipe 17 to the compressor is a condenser 18 which receives compressed refrigerant from the compressor, cools and liqueies the refrigerant which then vflows through a pipe 19, into a receiver 20. The pulley wheel 14 may have fan blades formed thereln for causing air to circulate over the condenser 18; A, pi 21 connected to the receiver'20 directs tige? liquefied refri erant to a cooling unit or evaporator 22 a apted to be located in a compartment to be cooled. A preedtermined quantity of liquid refrig- Aerant is maintained the evaporator 22 under control ofa fioat valve, (not shown) which fioat valve may be of the type shown in the patent to Osborn, 1,556,708, filed October 13, 1925. Refrigerant evaporated in the evaporator 22 returns to the compressor through a gaseous return conduit 23. A switch 24 connected with the conduit 23 by pipe 25 controls the starting and stopping of motor 12 in response to pressures within the system.

In carrying out m invention for determin- I ing the quantity o liquid refrigerant in a portion of the system I provide on the refrigerant circulating unit a tiltably or pivotally mounted receiver having a scale at one end thereof and a sight glass in the liquid supply pipe extending from the receiver to the evaporator. I mount the receiver to the unit base by securing a U-shaped member 27, to one end of the receiver 20, (see Fig. 5) in any suitable manner such as by welding it to the end of the receiver. Each leg of the U-shaped member 27 is provided with an opening which is adapted to be received by a stud 28 secured to and protruding from the side of base 16. The end of stud 28 is of smaller diameter and is threaded to receive a lock nut 29 to pivotally secure the member 27 to the base 16. A collar 31 is located between the side wall of base 16 and the member 27 to separate the receiver from the base.

A plate 33 secured to the other end of receiver 20 (See Fig. 4) is provided with an elongated opening 34 which receives a thumb screw 35. Thumb screw 35 is threaded into a threaded opening in the side wall of base 16 and tiltably clamps plate 33 against the base to hold the receiver in any desired position. 'Plate 33 has a graduated scale 37 provided along its edge (see Fig. 2) which registers with a stationary pointer or the like 33 provided on the side of base 16. Pipe 19 has a loop formed therein` so as to provide a flexible connection of the condenser with the receiver and thus permit movement of the receiver. A similar loop may also be provided in pipe 21 if desired.

A valve fitting 41, communicating with the pipe 21 and secured to the receiver 20, has a pipe 42 extending downwardly therefrom into receiver 20 to a. point normally below the liquid refrigerant level 39 therein. A sight glass coupling, generally7 designated at 43, has one of its ends secured to the fitting 41 while its other end receives the pipe 21. Sight glass coupling 43 comprises a thick walled glass cylinder 44 (see Fig. 6) clamped in a metal cylinder 45 by couplers 46 and 47 which are threaded into cylinder 45. Be-

` tween the glass 44 and the couplers 46 and 47 are located two washers `48 and 49 made of rubber or other suitable material, which can be compressed without breaking the glass 44 to seal the sight glass coupling 43 from leaks. The meta-l cylinder 45 protects the glass 44 from being broken and has two small openings 51 and 52 to -permit .visabilit through the sight glass coupling 43. It 1s thus apparent that I have provided a refrigerant circulating unit with a tilting receiver together with a sight glass which will withstand abnormal pressures, the Autility of whichwill now be explained.

One 'acquainted with the refrigerating system Vdescribed knows how much liquid refrigerant is contained in the evaporator 22 and its connecting pipe 21 to the receiver 20. The amount of gaseous refrigerant in the system is also known. It is therefore only necessary to establish the amount of liquid refrigerant contained within the receiver to determine whether the system is operating without sufficient refrigerant therein. Ac. cording to this invention the scale 37 may be graduated to indicate pounds to definitely show the amount of liquid refrigerant in the receiver at the time refrigerant gas bubbles begin to flow into the liquid refrigerant line 2l to the evaporator 22..'

Should the amount of refrigerant contained inv a'system of the type described be l5 doubtful it is an east; and simple task to definitely determine exactly how much refrigerant is in the system in the following manner. The receiver is of such length that a slight upward noz-ement of its movable end will cause a substantial decrease in the level of liquid refrigerant contained in that end. During operation of the refrigerant circulating unit thumb screw 35 may be loosened and the end of receiver 20 may be moved or titlted up slightly. This movement of the receiver is for the purpose of lowering the level 39 of liquid refrigerant in the receiver to a point even with or below the end of outlet pipe 42 (see Fig. 3) so that gaseous refrigerant may enter the pipe 42 and line 21. During this upward movement of receiver 20 the sight glass coupling 43 should be observed and as soon'as bubbles of gaseous refrigerant are seen td begin to iiow through coupling 43 the upward movement,` of receiver 2O should be stopped. By referring to the scale 37 at this moment the stationary pointer 38 will indicate on the scale the exact quantity ofA liquid refrigerant in the receiver. Knowing the quantity of refrigerant in other portions of the system one can now, without guessing, definitely determine the quantity within the entire system. If thesystem is lacking refrigerantthe correct amount thereof can be added to insure eflicient operation thereof. It is to be understood that after refrigerant has been added to the system the receiver can be moved or tilted farther up Ain the same manner as before stated and the quantity of refrigerant in the system can be again checked if this quantity is doubtful.

It is thus apparent from the foregoing description that I have provided a refrigerating system having a means for readily and definitely determining the quantity of refrigerant therein without the necessity of disconnecting any portion thereof. Furthermore I have provided a refrigerant circulating vunit having a portion thereof, which contains a quantity of liquid refrigerant adapted to be circulated through the system,

pivotally or tiltably mounted. Therefore in installations where the unit-is permanently secured to a cabinet or in case the unit is of excessive weight the receiver of the unit can be easily tilted for the purpose hereinbefore described.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a refrigerant circulating unit including a container for a quantity of liquid refrigerant, said container being pivotally mounted to said unit, means communicating with said container for detecting the low of refrigerant therefrom, and

means associated with said container for indicating the quantity of liquid refrigerant therein upon movement of the container.

2. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a refrigerant circulating unit including a container for a quantity of liquid refrigerant, said container being pivotally mounted to said unit, a sight glass communicating with said container for detecting the iow of refrigerant therefrom, and means associated with said container for` indicating the quantity of liquid refrigerant therein upon movement of the container.

3. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a refrigerant circulating unit including a container for a quantity of liquid refrigerant, said container being pivotalls7 mounted to said unit, means communicating with said container for detecting the flow of refrigerant therefrom, and a scale associated with said container for indicating the quantit;7 of liquid refrigerant therein upon movement of the container.

4. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a refrigerant circulating unit including a container for a quantity1 of liquid refrigerant, said container being pivotally mounted to said unit, a sight glass communieating with said container for detecting the flow of refrigerant therefrom, and a scale associated with said container for indicating the quantity of liquid refrigerant therein upon movement of the container;

5. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a refrigerant circulating unit including a container for a quantity of liquid refrigerant, said container being tiltable, means communicating with said container for detecting the ow of 'refrigerant therefrom, and means associated with said container, for indicating the quantity7 of liquid refrigerant therein upon tilting of the container.

6. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a refrigerant circulating unit including a container for a quantity of liquid refrigerant, said container being tiltable, a sight glass communicating with said container for detecting the flow yof refrigerant therefrom, and means associated with* said container for indicating the quantity of liquid refrigerant therein upon tilting of the container.

7. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a refrigerant circulating unit including a container fora quantity of liquid refrigerant, said container being tiltable, means communicating with said container for detecting the iow of refrigerant therefrom, and a scale associated with said container for indicating the quantity of liquid refrigerant therein upon tilting ofthe container.

8. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a refrigerant circulatingmeans communicating .With said receiver fory detecting the ow of refrigerant therefrom,

and means associated with the receiver for y indicating the quantity of liquid refrigerant therein upon movement of the receiver.

10. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a'motor, a compressor and a condenser mounted on a base, a receiver containing a. quantity of liquid refrigerant, said receiver being pivotally mounted to said base, a sight glass communicating with said receiver for detecting the flow of refrigerant therefrom, and means associated with said receiver for indicating the quantity of liquid refrigerant therein upon movement of the receiver.

l1. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a motor, a compressor and a condenser mounted on a base, a receiver containing a quantity of liquid refrigerant, said receiver being pivotall;r mounted t-o said base, means communicating with said receiver for detecting the flow ofrefrig'- erant therefrom, and a scale associated with said receiver for indicating the quantity of liquid refrigerant therein upon movement of the receiver.

12. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a motor, a compressor andl a. condenser mounted Vona base, a. receiver containing a quantity of liquid refrigerant, said receiver being pivotally mounted to said base, a sight glass communicating with said receiver for detecting the flow of refrigerant therefrom, and a scale associatedfwith said receiver for indicating the quantity of liquid refrigerant therein upon movement of the receiver. I

In. testimony whereof I hereto aiiix my signature.

HARRY B. HULL. 

